Split fabric



A. GAGNE ABRIC June 12. 1928.

. Original Filed June 28- 1 I -lnveiaior: flu qusiain (Zagae, by 61447 73rrZM) 4? Z' trative atente June 12, 192.

ii A TfiES F all Eli'llPEl 1 an COMPANY, QB PA'WTUC KET, REGDE ISLAND, A CQRPORATIOEDF MASSAQEWSETTQ SPLIT FAEEEQ.

@riginal application filed June 23, 1921, Serial No. 481,144. Divided and this application filed November 27, 1922. Serial No. 803,443.

This invention relates to knitted fabric but more particularly seamless split fabric for use in hosiery and the like and is a division of my copending application for machines for knitting split fabric Serial No. 481,144 filed June 28, 1921.

lln order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood 1 have shown inthe accompanying drawings one illusembodiment of my invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side'elevation of a stocking having its ankle and foot formedof fabric embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagram on a greatly enlarged scale of two sections of the fabric united at opposite edges by knitted loops; and

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relation of the two sections of fabric and'the seams for uniting the same when applied to a tubular knitted web such as the high splice or foot of a stocking.

-An object of thepresent invention is to provide a strong, durable, elastic and inconspicuous seam for-uniting two sections of fabric, preferabl though not exclusively, in a single Wale an so constructed that no unsightly eyelet holes, gaps or open spaces w ll appear along the sides of the suture seam.

In the accompanying drawings, referring particularly to Fig. 1, 1 represents the leg of a stockin of well known form which may or may notie fashioned at the calf 2 either 39y withdrawing needles as is customary in 1110 manufacture of full fashioned hosiery )r by varying the length of the loops as in :o-called seamless hosiery both of which are well known and require no further explana- Split fabric when employed in the convtructionof hosiery is sometimes started in he ankle 3 at the top of the high splice 4, Fig. for the purpose of reinforcing. the heel ufficiently to enable it to withstand the *hafing to which it is subjected at this point y the heel of the shoe. This high splice desirably com osed of more durable yarn Juan is used in t e front part 5 of the ankle, "1e latter being generally the same as that sed in the leg and this same distinction :m be and often is carried througlhnthe heel oot 7, and toe 8 of the stoc g. Ob-' viously the yarn of the foot may not only be of a different character from that of the inste or front of the ankle and leg but certain portions of the sole, heel and toe maybe of a different or contrasting color as for'exarnple, white, the remaining parts of the foot and leg being lolack, brown or other shades so commonly used.

Whenever it is desirable in a fabric to produce a seamless structure of two or more sections composed of different yarns without floating yarns or loose ends upon the interior of the fabric, a seam usually called a suture seam forms the dividing line be tween the two fabrics and in the stocking shown in Fig. 1 such a seam is disclosed extending from the point 9 at the top of the high splice to the ankle 10 and on to the top 11 of the toe pocket.

Gill

Although the present invention contemplates the use of an improved split fabric in hosiery it clearly is not limited to the application shown but may also be employed in all articles wherein yarn of contrasting color and character are desired which sections have to be united during the formation offthe fabric and in and by the knitting operations.

In Fig. 2 I have shown in diagram, greatly enlarged, two sections 12 and 13 of knitted fabric, which sections may, for exam 1e, correspond res ectively with the high sp ice 4 and frontan le portion 5 or with the sole 7 and opposed instep portion of the stockin lhe two sections 12 and 13 are indicated only in part in order to save room in the drawings, only two needle wales 12', 12' of the section 12 and three needle wales 13',

, 13'. of the section 13 being shown, these sections being united herein by single needle wales 14 and14' at opposite edges of the section 12.

In the present example the wales 14 and 14 are composed of interengaging or inter-- knitted, alternate single and double loops .15 and 16 respectively forming the marginal or terminal loops of the sectlons 13 and 12 although it is distinctlyito be understood that the invention is not limited to the forming of the double 100 s upon the section 12 .or alternately with t e single loops;

In order hat the relation of the sections 12-and 13 to each othermay more readily I be understood attention is called to Fig. 3

wherein the section 1 the loops of the wales 12 in reality or preferably each includes a loop 17 of the usual form or like the loops of the wales 12 and 13' and a second loop 18 constituting the connecting strand between the. course of which the loo 17 is the terminalloop', and

the first loop ormed of the same yarn 1n the next course, the latter looprepresented by the reference character 19.

Instead of leading directly from the throat of the loop 17, said yarnleads from said,

throat around the closed end of said loop 17 thence laterally tothe throat of a loop 19 preferably in the next or adjacent Wale 12 which, in the present example is the first loop of the. subsequent course above referred to. p I

Each loop 17 is the last loop to be formed upon the series of needles used in knitting the section 12. In other wordsthe loop 17 a is formed upo n the tail needle of said series which'needle will be the leading needle upon the reversemovement of the needle carrier, it being understood that the split fabric herein shown is formed during reciprocating knitting, the fabric'section 12 being knitted upon one series of needles called the primary needles while the section 13 is generally knitted upon another set of needles designated inste needles. The two groups of needles ca led primary and secondary needles are functioned by independent sets otknitting cams called respectively primary and secondary camsand each set of cams has its individual yarn feeding means, all of which are tally described in the original application aforesaid.

'llhe suture seams 14 and 1 1' may obviously be formed either upon the terminal primary orthe terminal secondary needles but in the present example, said seams are produced upon the terminal primary needles and in order to effect the interknittin of the yarns of the two sections of fabric said terminal needles hereinafter called suture needles are acted upon by means each as pickers: a'hich effect their withdrawal from action With respect to the rirnary knitting cam and primary yarn gui e when saidsuture needles are the advancing or leading needles of their respective set. lit is the elevating at said suture needles which attests the {formation of loops causing the yarn from the primary yarn guide to be wrapped about this leading elevated needle with the loop 17 and the now elevated needle occupies the position of tail needle with the instep series hence passes through the secondary cam and takes the secondary yarn causing the casting off'of the loops 17 and 18 over the yarn thus taken and forming the loop 15.11ereinbe-fo1e referred to as a single loop. This action takes place at the end of each course or. reciprocation, thereby producing a double loop at each margin of the section 12 alternating with a single loop 15. The double loops 16 of the wale 14 lie in a different course however from the double loop lfiofethe wale 14' at the opposite side of the section 12. s

The next loop of the wale 14 and likewise of the Wale-1 1' is a single loop 15 constitutmg the terminal or marginal loop of the section 13 because it is composed of secondary yarn although knitted upon the terminal needle of the primary series. In this case, however, the loop 15 is knitted through and embraced by the strand of the loops 17 and 18 which cross said loop 15 at the throat thereof and in the seam 14. One side of the loop 15 is connected by a lateral strand 20 with the throat of the preceding loop 21 in the same course but preferably in an adjacent wale while the other side of the throat of sa d loop 15 is connected by an oblique strand 22 with the throat of the primary or first loop 23 formed of the same or secondary yarn and constitutin a loop of the needle wale13' within w ich the loop 21 likewise occurs. The fabric section 13 will thus possess single strand terminal loops formed of yarn connecting, one course with its succeeding course, which single strand .loops inter-engage and herein are shown alternating with double strand terminal loops of the other section of fabric occurring in the same wale and furthermore a single strand terminal loop of this section 13 will be at one end of a course of which a double strand loop forms the terminal loop at its other end. By reason of this, construction and particularly in View of the fact that double strand loops are formed upon the primary fabric section 12 which, in a stocking, generally includes the heel pocket, sole and toe pocket, also in some instances the high splice, these sections will be strong and elastic because the said terminal or sutnre loopsare double or, more strictly speaking they consist of complete and partial "loops 1? and 18 and each partial loop has a lateral strand 18 which tends to maintain the closed end of the complete loop 17 in definite spaced relation to the throat of the succeeding loo 19 and a strand 24- which tends to maintain the throat of said loop 17 in deli nite spaced relation to the preceding loop of the same course.

As each terminal loop at 3 lit) the, fabric section is thus definitely positioned there will be nodanger or chance of' the wales of said section 12 being distorted or thrown out of alignment. On the other hand the fabric section 13 is more elastic because of the fact that lighter yarn is employed and it is subjected to' less wear than the section 12. Furthermore two succeeding connected courses of the section 13 are united through one of said single strand loops 15 by the lateral and oblique strands 20 and 22 leading respectively to the previous loop in the same course andto the first loop in the succeeding course normally causing said strands 20 and 22 to diverge but upon tension being applied thereto, these strands tend to draw together slightly, thereby permitting a limited lateral spreading of the loops or wales of the fabric section 13. Owing to the size of the double strand loops 16 as compared with that of the single strand loops and the extra yarn composing said double strand loops any gaps formed by the lateral expansion of said single loops willbe substantially concealed hence producing no noticeable effect.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. As an article of manufacture, a knitted split fabric formed in two sections from different yarns interconnected at each end of of each artial course in a suture seam com- .posed w olly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands of the other yarn,'the terminal loops of alternate courses of one section being composed of double strands of the same yarn, both directly interknitted in each instance with the same single strand loop of the other section.

2. As an article of manufacture, a knitted split fabric formed in two sections from different yarns interconnected at each end of each partial course in a suture seam composed wholly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands of the other yarn, the terminal loops of alternate courses of one section being composed of double strands of the same yarn, both directly interknitted in each instance in a sin 1e Wale with the same single strand termina loop of the other section.

" 3. As an article of manufacture, a knitted split fabric formed in two sections from different yarns interconnected at each end ofeach partial course in a suture seam composed wholly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands of the other yarn, the terminal loops f one of said sections being composed of relatively inflexible double strands of the same yarn, both .directly interlooped in each instance with a relatively vand of single strands of the other yarn, the

yarn of one section being relatively stronger than the yarn of the other section and composed of double strands of the same yarn and alternately directly interknitted in eachv instance in a single wale with a terminal loop of the other fabric section embodying. the relatively weaker yarn which latter is' composed of single strand loops possessing a greater capacity for lateral flexibility.

5. A tubular knit fabric formed in two sections of needle loops connected in a suture scam composed wholly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands of the other yarn, one of said sections being formed of silk yarn and the other of relatively stronger yarn, the terminal loops of the fabric composed of said silk yarn containing single strand, laterally flexible loops alternating in the same wales with and in each instance directly interknitted with double strand loops of said relativel strong yarn, said double strand 100 s existing in each instance in the same i entical yarn.

6. A knitted stocking composed of needle loops having two continuous main yarns in the high splice and sole portions thereof interconnected at each end of each partial course in a suture seam composedwholly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands of the other yarn, one of said yarns being silk and the other a relatively stronger yarn, opposite edges of the section composed of relatlvely stronger yarn having formed therein two strand terminal loops in alternate courses'directly interknitted in each instance in the same Wale with single strand in each instance with single strand loops only of another yarn and thereby formin a suture seam composed wholly of dou 1e strands of one of said yarns and of single strands of the other of said yarns.

8. As an article of manufacture, a split fabric composed of needle loops and formed in two sections united in a wale oomposeiof alternate single loops of one yarn and double strand loops of another yarn in each instance directly. interknitted with each other and thereby forming a suture seam composed wholly of double strands of one of said of one of said two suture seams and a double seam there bein loop existing in another yarn, and forming the entire portion of the other of said suture seams for said course.

it). As a new article of manufacture, a circular lrnit, split fabric formed in two sections united by two suture seams at their respective edges, in each course throughout the extent of said seams there being a single loop oil one yarn :lorming the entire portion of one oil said two suture seams and a double loop existing in another yarn and forming the entire portion of the other of said suture seams for said course, said single'loop'and double loop formation alternating in alternate courses throughout both of said seams.

ll. "As an article of manufacture, a circular knit, split fabric formed in two sec-- tions, the respective edges-whereof are connected in two suture seams, in each suture seam there b6111 a single loop of one yarn directly iuterknitted with a double loop of the other yarn, and said single loo having one strand extending laterally rom its throatto the next adjacent loop in the same "course andhaving another strand extending obliquely from its throat to an adjacent loop in anot or course.

12. As an article of manufacture, a circular knit split fabric formed in two sections, the respective edges whereof are connected in two suture seams, in each suture a sin le loo of one yarn directly interlrnit-ted with a ouble loop of the other yarn and said single loo having one strand extending laterally trom its throat to the next adjacent loop in the same course and having another strand extending obliquely from its throat to an adjacent" loop in another course, said double loop consisting of a complete loop and a partial loop, which latter extends from the throat of said first loop to the throat of an adjacent loop in the next course.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a circular knit, fabric having, therein a split fabric portion formed in two sections from two distinct yarns, said sections being connected by two spaced suture seams inter- 7 connected at each end of each partial course,

each said seam being composed wholly of double strands of one yarn and of single strands oi? the other yarn, all of the suture loops formed from one or said yarns being single loops and all of the suture loops,

formed from the other of yarns being double loops single strands. oil the other yarn, there beirr formed from one of said yarns being single loops and all of the suture loops formed trom the other. out said yarns bein double loops, said single loops and doub e loops alternating in successive courses throughout both of said seams. 7

15. its a new article of manufacture, a circular knit fabric having therein a split fabric portion formed in two sections from two distinct yarns, said sections being con nected by two spaced suture seams, each wholly in a single wale and interlrnitted at each end at each partial course, in each course of the fabric throughout which the suture seams extend there being a single loop of one of said yarns at one suture seam and a double loop existing in the other yarn at the other suture seam constituting the entire seam construction forsaid course.

16. As a new article of manuiacture, a circular knit split fabric formed in two sections, the respective edges whereof are connected in two suture seams, each said seam being composed wholly of double strands of one yarn and of single-strands of the other yarn, both said sections being interconnected dire'ctl in and by each course at each end thereo and in each suture seam there being a single loop of one yarn directly interlmitted with a double loop existing in the other yarn. Y

17 As a new article of manufacture, a single knit split fabric formed in two sections, each section interconnected at each end directly and by each course with the other section, so as to :lorm two suture seams, each said seam being composed lit lllll llll wholly of double strands of one yarn and a other section, so as to form two suture seams, each said seam being composed wholly of double strands oil one yarn and of in each suture $2.51 yarn directly lit" with loop and partial loop formed of the other yarn.

In testimony whereof, I bare signed my name to thissepecitlcationu GAGNE, 

